July Rangitikei Line Cover

July Rangitikei Line Cover

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Currently Out for Consultation – Draft Traffic and Parking Bylaw

Council is currently faced with a number of issues related to traffic and parking which it cannot resolve when vehicle o...

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Currently Out for Consultation – Draft Traffic and Parking Bylaw

Council is currently faced with a number of issues related to traffic and parking which it cannot resolve when vehicle owners are not responsive to requests. These issues can include people exceeding parking restrictions, parking in loading zones, or parking unwarranted/registered cars on the sides of roads and undertaking mechanical repairs on them over long periods of time.

Therefore, Council has drafted a Bylaw which would provide Council with powers (including fines and the ability to tow vehicles) to address these issues. It is intended that the Bylaw will apply on all roads that Council manages, as well as on State Highways in urban areas.

The draft Bylaw also contains provisions where Council can restrict heavy vehicle use on roads, and allow use of those roads, only if compensation for damage to the road is paid. These provisions will become increasingly important as forestry through the District becomes mature and requires harvesting. On low-volume roads, heavy vehicles associated with forestry harvesting can cause damage to the road.

Council intends to use the draft Bylaw to address complaints made by the community and does not intend on employing a parking warden.

Written submissions may be made until noon Friday 8 September 2017. Those who make a written submission may also make an oral submission. Oral hearings are scheduled for 28 September 2017 at the Council Chambers in Marton.

Further information, including a submission form, is available from Council’s libraries in Marton, Bulls and Taihape, from the Council’s Main Office in Marton, from the Council’s website www.rangitikei.govt.nz or you may request a copy to be emailed or posted to you by calling 0800 422 522.

If you have any questions please contact Katrina Gray, Senior Policy Analyst/Planner. You can find a copy of the detailed information on Council’s website.

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Message from the Mayor

Our District has had a snow dumping that locals have said has been the worst since 1965? (These sorts of dates are alway...

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Message from the Mayor

Our District has had a snow dumping that locals have said has been the worst since 1965? (These sorts of dates are always in dispute); some areas escaped relatively lightly, while in other parts it was up to 2 meters deep. For some of us it was a winter wonderland to be played in, enjoyed and captured on film in perpetuity.

However, for many it brought with it, and will continue to bring for a while yet, hardship, loss of income, isolation and fear. As with any event we have, there are lessons to be learned. This time it was communication in the northern areas with cell phones and landlines going down, and with the isolation caused by both state highways and rural access roads. My thanks go to the many farmers and contractors that assisted us by opening up rural roads.

The event also served to remind us about messages from National Civil Defence where everyone should plan to be self-sufficient for at least three days and be in charge of their own necessities. We all need to have a survival package containing water, matches, candles, food, a battery powered radio etc. How many of us were caught without these key necessities and how many have also identified the need to have a generator or an alternative heating source?

The second event was the annual local government conference where President Lawrence Yule’s term as President came to an end to be replaced by Dave Cull the Mayor of Dunedin. Local Government’s profile and relationships with Central government has been advanced light years in Lawrence’s term and I want to congratulate him publically on a job very well done.

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District hit by worst snow storm since 1965

Last month the Rangitikei District had to dig itself out from under the biggest dumping of snow seen in the last 50 year...

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District hit by worst snow storm since 1965

Last month the Rangitikei District had to dig itself out from under the biggest dumping of snow seen in the last 50 years or so.

While some areas escaped relatively lightly, other parts had snow two meters deep and it will be sometime before life is back to normal for these areas.

The snow brought down communication in the northern areas with cellphones and landlines being knocked out and both state highways and rural access roads impassable.

This emergency underlined the need for all residents to be self sufficient with a survival kit on hand with at least three days supply of food and water. The kit should also include matches, battery radio and a torch (see story ‘When Disaster Strikes’ with its links to emergency information on the next page).

On a District level, the snow storm cut power and caused disruption in Council’s delivery of core services of sewerage, water and wastewater to local communities. Council used its own generator resources, and brought in others from outside to restore power and get the plants up and running again as fast as it could.

Even so, the effects of the storm are still on-going. Some areas in the District are still without power and there are 1.5 meters of snow on the Taihape – Napier Road, which the roading contractors are working to clear. Numerous slips are causing access issues – some roads only suitable for 4 wheel drive vehicles – and a massive amount of damage has been done to trees and greenery across the District.

One of the positives to come out of this emergency is the way people have checked on friends and neighbours and helped each other clear snow and slips. The roading and power contractors have worked for days in bitterly cold conditions to restore services.

A one in 50 year snow storm takes a massive toll on people and infrastructure and while the District is slowly getting back on its feet, there is a lot more to be done yet.

We read about them fairly regularly these days – floods, storms, earthquakes and other events. These emergency situations can sometimes result in towns, families and individuals being cut off from their normal supply lines of food and power as well as medical and practical assistance.

Being prepared for an emergency will go along way to ensuring your survival in times of disruption and disaster.

Every home should have an emergency survival kit on hand. Such a kit should include a torch with spare batteries or a self-charging torch and a radio with spare batteries. All batteries should be checked every three months. Matches and candles should also be in your kit.

Your survival kit will have wind and waterproof clothing for all the family as well as strong footwear and sun hats. A first aid kit with essential medicines is a must, as are blankets, sleeping bags and an emergency toilet (toilet paper and large rubbish bags). Face and dust masks will be necessary and food for any pets you may have should be included.

Food and water are a vital part of your survival kit. You should have enough stored for at least three days for the whole family.

Food should include canned or dried food (don’t forget a can opener), baby food if toddlers are part of the family, water for drinking (3 lts per day per person), water for washing and cooking and a camp cooker or barbeque to cook on.

You should also consider stocking a two-week supply of food and water in case of prolonged emergencies such as a pandemic.

Check and replace food and water in your survival kit every twelve months.

Full details on how to pack and store your survival kit, what you should have in a get away kit if you have to leave your home in a hurry and detailed information on what to expect and what to do in various types of emergencies, can be found here.

This link gives you a household emergency plan you can print out and fill in so everyone knows in advance who does what.

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July Highlights

This month sees a real milestone for our Parks and Reserves team, it has been two years since the Rangitikei District Co...

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July Highlights

This month sees a real milestone for our Parks and Reserves team, it has been two years since the Rangitikei District Council established our team to undertake the care of our regions Parks, Reserves and Greenspaces.

It’s seems like only yesterday that the new team started and that we first headed out into the unknown. We have come a long way since that day and I am pleased to say nearly all of the original team have stayed with us. For me and the Rangitikei District Council, employing local people for local jobs was an important one as the team take a lot of pride in their work in their community.

The feedback from the community has been very positive towards our work and I do believe we have been making some great gains in our Parks and with our local communities. It is difficult getting it right all the time having such a large region and a small team and yes we will miss things at times, but it’s how the team pulls together to put it right really counts.

The local resident’s survey has been really great to read, along with some nice comments, it also highlights a few areas for improvement. This gives us something to work on in the coming year, to put right.

The really pleasing item in the 2017 annual residents survey, is that 18 percent of respondents felt the Parks, Sportsfeilds and Reserves were “Better than last year” In 2016’s survey this was 12 percent, these results make me feel we are on the right track.

We have a long way to go with our parks and gardens and a lot of new work is planned for the next twelve months. It’s an exciting time for our districts parks and we are seeing a lot of interest in what we do, things will take time to complete but they will get done.

I thought I would share a few of my highlights in my role over this time:

Planning/Installation of the water source to Memorial Park Taihape

Working with the local communities on numerous projects

Being able to set a every increasing standard in our work with the team across the region

All the speaking engagements I have been invited to

Signing up one of our team to an Primary Industry Training Organisation (Horticulture) training agreement

So if you see anything in the parks that you think requires a discussion with me, please don’t hesitate to call, I can be contacted though the main Council number (06) 327 0099.

I would like to thank my team for all the work they have done in the last two years and the interest they have shown in their work.

July Storm Event

I think we can all say we don’t want to see a storm like the region experienced in July. The rain in the lower part of the region caused some issues for us but the snow in the northern parts has resulted in some major tree work ahead.

The sheer weight of the snow on trees in our Parks has done some irreversible damage to a large number of trees. We have been out most of the week of the (17th-22nd July) removing damaged trees, picking up branches and pruning damage. This is a costly exercise to put right and will take time. If you see any trees that look unsafe with damaged branches in our parks please call the RDC and put a request for service in.

August Work Program

August will be a quiet time for the team with them focusing on preparation for the spring flush. We will be mulching numerous gardens across the region to help reduce our dependence on agrichemicals. Our winter tree pruning program will commence with large deciduous trees being dead wooded in Taihape, Bulls and Marton.

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Dog Registrations – Due 1 August

Dog registrations are due on 1 August each year. All dogs over the age of three months are required to be registered. Wh...

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Dog Registrations – Due 1 August

Dog registrations are due on 1 August each year. All dogs over the age of three months are required to be registered. When a dog is first registered only the balance of the current years registration fee is payable.

Dog owners are required to advise Council promptly of any change of dog ownership or address.

A handy “Dog Owners Handbook” is available on Council’s website. This contains information on what your registration covers; how to be a responsible dog owner; and maps showing where the dedicated dog exercise areas are around the Rangitikei. You can view the document by following this link.